Original Cast - At The Ballet Lyrics

Original Cast
A Chorus Line
At The Ballet
conceived, choreographed and directed by MICHAEL BENNET
book by JAMES KIRKWOOD and NICHOLAS DANTE
music by MARVIN HAMLISCH
lyrics by EDWARD KLEBAN

FOLLOWS " And "

SHEILA (speaks)
Well, let's face it. May family scene was not good.
(sings)
Daddy always thought that he married beneath him.
That's what he said, that's what he said.
When he proposed he informed my mother
he was probably her very last chance.
And though she was twenty-two, though she was twenty-two,
though she was twenty-two -
She married him.

Life with my Dad wasn't ever a picnic.
More like a "Come as you are."
When I was five I remember my mother
dug earrings out of the car.
I knew that they weren't hers, but it wasn't
something you'd want to discuss.
He wasn't warm.
Well, not to her.
Well, not to us.

But ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.
Graceful men lift lovely girls in white.
Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.
Hey!
I was happy at the ballet.
(speaks)
That's when I started class
(sings)
Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

SHEILA, BEBE
To the voice like a metronome.
Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

SHEILA
It wasn't paradise,

BEBE
It wasn't paradise,

SHEILA, BEBE
It wasn't paradise,

SHEILA
But it was home.

BEBE
Mother always said I'd be very attractive
When I grew up, when I grew up.
"Different," she said, "with a special something
and a very, very personal flair."
And though I was eight or nine, though I was eight or nine,
Though I was eight or nine, I hated her.

(Now) "Different" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty.
"Pretty" is what it's about.
I never met anyone who was "different"
Who couldn't figure that out.
So beautiful I'd never live to see.
But it was clear, if not to her,
Well, then to me that

BEBE, MAGGIE
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet
Ev'ry prince has got to have his swan.
Yes, ev'ryone is beautiful at the ballet.

MAGGIE
Hey!

BEBE
I was pretty

SHEILA
At the ballet.

MAGGIE, BEBE, SHEILA
Up a steep and very narrow stairway.
To the voice like a metronome.
Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

MAGGIE
It wasn't paradise,

BEBE
It wasn't paradise,

SHEILA
It wasn't paradise,

TRIO
But it was home.

MAGGIE (speaks)
I don't know what they were for or against really. except each other. I mean, I was born to save their marriage. But when my father came to pick my mother up at the hospital, he said, "well, I thought this was going to help out, but I guess it's not." Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life. I used to dance around the living room with my hand up like this. My fantasy was that it was an Indian Chief and he'd say to me, "Maggie, do you wanna dance " And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance."

(Other 2 girls sing "Do, do, do")

BEBE
But it was clear

SHEILA
When he proposed

MAGGIE
That I was born to help their marriage and when

SHEILA
That's what he said

BEBE
That's what she said

MAGGIE
I used to dance around the living room

SHEILA
He wasn't warm

BEBE
Not to her

MAGGIE
It was an Indian chief and he'd say: "Maggie, do you wanna dance "
And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to "
Ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.
Raise your arms and someone's always there.
Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet,
At the ballet, at the ballet!!!